Bluetooth Not Showing in Device Manager? Here’s How to Fix it

Bluetooth within your computer may show different kinds of errors. We usually fix such errors by playing around with the device drivers. However, sometimes Bluetooth won’t even show up in the device manager. In such a case, you may wonder what can be done.

This problem generally arises because of connection issues. Defective ports can also create problems for USB Bluetooth devices. However, damage within the hardware itself can’t be fixed without any technical knowledge.

But, if it’s not a hardware issue or if you have embedded Bluetooth modules in your motherboard, move along with this article to find causes and solutions for the problem.

Why is Bluetooth Not Showing in Device Manager?

How to Fix Bluetooth Not Showing in Device Manager?

The first thing you should check is the Bluetooth status of your device at the hardware level. If your PC hasn’t got inbuilt Bluetooth, you will never find it in the device manager. Check the connection of the external Bluetooth device in case you have one. 

If everything seems fine to you, try the solutions for the problem:

Power Cycling

The devices within your computer may malfunction or freeze due to various reasons. But leftover power within your PC doesn’t let such devices restore and reset themselves to the default configuration. So, if your Bluetooth device is facing this kind of problem, it won’t solve it until you drain all the power out of it.

Begin by disconnecting all the peripherals from your PC. If it’s a laptop, remove the battery from the back panel. Then, hold the power button for 15-20 seconds. It will drain charges left within the capacitors of your PC and will let all the hardware components restart properly.

Start Bluetooth Service

Bluetooth support service manages Bluetooth devices as well as the connectivity of your device. If it’s disabled, Bluetooth in your computer won’t work properly. To enable the service, and start it up with the device’s booting process, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows + R keys to open the Run command.
2. Type services.msc and hit Enter.
3. Navigate and right-click on Bluetooth Support Service.
4. Select Properties.
5. Choose Automatic from the dropdown of Startup type.
6. Click on Start under Service status.
   
7. Then Apply and OK.

Restart your computer once, and check if the Bluetooth is working properly or not.

Show Hidden Devices

Bluetooth modules within your devices may be hidden in the device manager. Generally, this happens with the USB Bluetooth peripherals. To find such devices, you need to follow the steps below:

1. Open Device Manager from the search bar.
2. Go to View from the top navbar.
3. Click on Show hidden devices.
4. Expand dropdown of Unknown Devices or Other Devices.
   

If these options consist of Bluetooth, right-click on them and select Scan for hardware changes. Upon detection of the correct hardware for Bluetooth, update the drivers by right-clicking and choosing Update driver.

Install Latest Bluetooth Drivers

Windows may not automatically figure out the right driver for the devices connected. So, a better option would be to go through the manufacturer’s website to download and install the correct Bluetooth Driver. 

Search for the Bluetooth driver along with the name and model of your computer.
Then download the driver from the authentic webpage of the manufacturer, and follow the on-screen instructions to install it. 

Resolve Driver Issues

Bluetooth modules may be connected to the motherboard through PCI slots which may malfunction, causing this problem. The external Bluetooth devices may also be connected via USB ports, which can have its own issues.

If you see errors regarding USB or PCI devices in the device manager, resolving those specific issues can help fix your Bluetooth problem.

Additionally, updating your chipset drivers can also help. Here’s how you can do so via the Device Manager:

1. Type devmgmt.msc in the run command and hit Enter.
2. Expand the dropdown for IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers.
3. Right-click on the driver within it and choose Update driver.
   
4. Select Search automatically for drivers.

Windows will automatically install available driver updates. After updating is done, Reboot your computer.

If you’d like to update to the latest chipset drivers, getting them directly from the manufacturer will be your best bet. Search online for the chipset drivers of your brand and OS version. Download the installer file through the official website, then install it following the on-screen instructions.

Use Bluetooth Troubleshooter

Windows has got an inbuilt troubleshooter for the devices and hardware. It will automatically check for the problems and will either fix them or suggest what needs to be done. The Bluetooth troubleshooter can also be accessed through settings, but steps within the control panel would fit most users:

1. Open the Control Panel from Settings.
2. Click on View by: and select Large icons.
3. Choose Troubleshooting.
4. Go to Hardware and Sound.
5. Select Bluetooth and click Next.
   
6. Close when Done.

Resolve Windows Update Issues

Windows update has also been reported to bring bugs for Bluetooth drivers. If such an update of Windows causes your problem, you can uninstall the previous update by checking the update history. To uninstall update patches from your system, follow the steps below:

1. Press Windows + I keys to open Settings.
2. Go to Windows Update, then Update history.
3. Scroll and click the Uninstall updates link, which opens Control Panel.
   
4. Right-click on each update patch within Microsoft Windows.
   
5. Select Uninstall and then Yes.

Or you can also wait for the next update with patches to fix the issue.

Check Bluetooth Adapter

You may stick with the problem even after trying all of the above fixes. Before moving to reset or reinstall your system, check the external Bluetooth adapter at the hardware level. Insert it into any other system and see if it’s working properly. If it isn’t, you will have to buy another device.

Update BIOS

The built-in Bluetooth modules need to be enabled from the BIOS. If it isn’t, then OS would be unable to change or modify its settings. To do so, you must enter the BIOS by pressing F2 or F12 while booting. Generally, the Bluetooth option lies under Advanced > Devices > Onboard devices. But the exact procedures to enable/disable BIOS may vary with brands.

BIOS(Basic Input Output System) deals with the basic functioning of hardwares. Problems in the BIOS can interrupt various devices as well. If the Bluetooth is inbuilt within your Motherboard, you can give try to update the BIOS to fix it.

System Restore/Reset

The last option you can try is to reset Windows. If you have created any restore point on your computer, you can restore your system to that point. Also, if restoring couldn’t fix the issue, you can reinstall Windows. 

You can follow our comprehensive guide on how to reinstall Windows.